On Monday, June 28th, the country’s longest serving U.S. Senator, Robert C. Byrd passed away at the Inova Hospital in Fairfax, Virginia.
This morning, the U.S. Senate opened its chamber doors one last time for Byrd, the West Virginian of humble origins who became a Senate fixture for nearly a quarter of the nation’s history.
A military honor guard carried Byrd’s casket up the Capitol steps, past the senator’s portrait in a reception room and into the Senate chamber, where he lied in repose for six hours, allowing members of Congress and the public, many not born when he first entered the Senate 51 years ago, to pay their respects. Byrd became only the 45th person to ever lie in repose in the Senate and the first since 1959.
The public galleries were open until 3:45 p.m., when the casket was carried from the U.S. Capitol to a hearse that took it to Andrews Air Force Base for a final flight home for West Virginia’s native son, a man that represented the state with such unwavering loyalty for more than five decades.
An Air National Guard C-130 will flew the late senator to Charleston in a nod of appreciation to Byrd, who was instrumental in stopping the federal government from moving Guard cargo planes out of West Virginia.
The Senator’s body arrived at the 130th Airlift Wing in Charleston at 5:50 p.m. today. The casket was placed in a hearse and transported to the Robert C. Byrd U.S. Courthouse, at 300 Virginia St. E.
The casket was then transported in a public procession down Kanawha Boulevard to the state Capitol. The procession included a bagpipe band, a horse-drawn carriage to transport the casket, a riderless horse, local and state dignitaries and members of Byrd’s family.
The procession ended on the South Plaza of the state Capitol near the Lincoln statue, where the casket was received and placed in the rotunda. Public viewing is being held in the state Capitol rotunda from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. Friday.
“Old School” would be the best description of the child from the coalfields. Reared by his Aunt and Uncle following the death of his Mother, who died from influenza in 1918, Byrd was raised in a full-faith Christian household. Values imparted upon him were a strict sense of love of country, the good character of working hard, and a drive to achieve the ultimate advantage of a good education.
Ultimately, religion, education, hard work and love of country were the four cornerstones of Byrd’s life foundation.
Byrd was valedictorian of Mark Twain High School and, in 1937, he married his high-school sweetheart, Erma Ora James. He eventually attended Beckley College, Concord College, Morris Harvey College, and Marshall College, all in West Virginia. While serving in Congress, Byrd spent 10 years earning his law degree from the American University in 1963.
Being recognized in his community as a natural leader, he was encouraged to seek a seat in the WV House of Delegates. Byrd picked up his fiddle and proceeded to charm West Virginians throughout his district. The love of music and his fiddle followed him throughout his career.
Robert C. Byrd was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates in 1947. Byrd’s first floor speech concerned a bill which would increase workers’ compensation benefits for widows from $30 per month to $40 per month. Because of Byrd’s eloquence in comparing the human element to the value of the dollar, the bill did pass and his speech was printed in the Appendix to the House Journal by unanimous consent. However, the bill did not pass the State Senate and did not become law.
He advanced to the State Senate in 1951 but resigned when elected to Congress and began his service in the House of Representatives in 1953. In 1958, he was elected to the United States Senate. From there, he spent his career rising to top positions in that body.
Throughout his career, Byrd cast 18,689 roll call votes — more votes than any other Senator in American history — compiling an amazing 97 percent attendance record in his more than five decades of service in the Senate.
While he did serve as Secretary of the Senate Democratic Conference, Majority Leader, Minority Leader and President pro tempore through the years, his position as Chairman on the Committee on Appropriations helped bring West Virginia into the 21st Century.
Although no final tally is immediately available regarding the billions of dollars Robert C. Byrd brought home to his Mountain State, more than 40 projects bear his name. From science centers, hospital research facilities, highways, schools, to veterans’ clinics, the child from the coalfields did all he could to help West Virginia thrive and prosper.
On November 18, 2009, the West Virginia House of Delegates and State Senate adopted resolutions honoring Senator Byrd as a distinguished public servant and dedicated statesman, and designating that day as “The Honorable Robert C. Byrd Day.” Already the longest serving U.S. Senator, the Honorable Robert C. Byrd became the longest-serving member of the United States Congress having served more than 20,775 days
Senate President and Lieutenant Governor Earl Ray Tomblin issued the following statement regarding the passing of the U.S. Senator :
“In the days and weeks to come many words will be written and spoken in tribute to United States Senator Robert C. Byrd. None, however, will rise to the greatness and great achievement this servant rendered to the people of our nation and especially for the citizens of West Virginia whom he loved so much….His record of accomplishment will continue to positively affect the lives of all Americans and stand as an example for future generations who will seek to serve.
As a man who experienced humble beginnings, and personal tragedies, he never gave up; never quit in his efforts to improve his beloved West Virginia. He was always ready to take advantage of opportunities not for himself, but for our State. His success has been unmatched.
We are all saddened by the loss of this great man. We will miss not only his presence and great ability, but we will miss his friendship and his outstretched hand, always willing to help those who could not help themselves. No man is indispensable, but he certainly is irreplaceable. May God bless the memory and ongoing accomplishments of this greatest of West Virginians.”
Speaker of the House of Delegates Richard Thompson issued the following statement regarding the passing of U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd:
“Senator Byrd’s passing is an unspeakable loss, first and foremost to West Virginia, but also to Congress and the country as a whole. He is a giant in the United States Senate, for his unmatched dedication to public service, incredible Constitutional scholarship and above all, his reverence and respect for the democratic process. He is the most important public servant in West Virginia’s history – our state’s biggest advocate and protector. This is a very sad day for all West Virginians. My heart goes out to his family, and I hope there is some peace in knowing that he is now with his beloved Erma.”
Speaker Richard Thompson also was on hand for “The Honorable Robert C. Byrd Day” in November and noted, “Senator Byrd’s roots in public service are here in these halls, in our very own House chamber – where he first came to serve after his mountain music touched the hearts of so many in Southern West Virginia. His beginnings are humble and inspirational, his knowledge is vast and unmatched, and his service is faithful and histori
